MicrosoftUpon reading your latest announcement about Copilot for Microsoft 365 being available for education, I feel compelled to express my disappointment and concerns. While I was initially excited about the potential of this technology for our faculty and staff, the reality of your offering is disheartening.
The requirement of a minimum of 300 users per tenant and the price of $30 per user per month are staggering. I understand that Microsoft is a business, not a charity, but these conditions seem unrealistic and inaccessible for many educational institutions, including ours. It appears that this service is intended only for the 'happy few' and wealthier institutions, effectively excluding a large portion of your loyal customer base.
If we are unable to access these tools due to such restrictive conditions, we are forced to consider alternatives such as Google's Bard, ChatGPT, and other Google apps. As a longstanding and loyal Microsoft user, it is regrettable that I must make this consideration, but the current strategy leaves us with no other choice.
It is disappointing to see a company with such a rich history in supporting education and technology take such a route. I sincerely hope there will be a reconsideration of the accessibility and pricing of Copilot for Microsoft 365 for educational institutions.
Kind regards,
Sandra
